This is a good comprehensive list for preparedness. Also if you have never heard of the LDS preparedness manual it would be a good idea to perhaps look at that as well. It might just give you some additional ideas. If you just Google LDS preparedness manual you will find it
PREPAREDNESS TIP: THE 15 PILLARS OF PREPAREDNESS by Andrew Skousen
Becoming self-sufficient requires a broad base of knowledge and abilities. Although we can never become experts in everything, the more basic skills we acquire the higher our standard of living will be in hard times when equipment, goods and services will be scarce or impossible to find. After reviewing the many tips I have written in the past I have compiled 15 categories of essential areas for preparedness. Most of us “preppers” are well prepared in specific areas that interest us or match our abilities while neglecting others. As you read through this list, pay attention to which areas are strong or weak for you, then focus on bringing the weaker areas up to par. Every category is essential, and ideally, everyone would achieve some proficiency in all categories. This takes time, so don’t be discouraged. Try to take action on something every week, either in line with the tip topic I send out or another area needing attention. Here are the categories and some of the sub-topics to indicate the depth of each subject.
1) Water: Water storage—from spare containers to large, underground cisterns. Berkey and other water filters. Rainwater harvesting, wells, hand pumps, springs, treating surface water, etc.
2) Land: Secure land or secondary retreat with evacuation plan and 72 hour kits/bug out bags. Secluded property, natural barriers, mountain cabin vs. farm, hiding in plain site, vegetation, concealment strategies, fencing, defensive layout, etc.
3) Shelter: Reinforced home, window and door security, secure store rooms, fallout shelter, fences, security alarms, wood fireplaces, backup hot water system, toilets. Personal shelter—cold weather clothing, plastic for windows.
4) Growing and Gathering Food: Gardening—soil, compost, seed starting, the 4 major crops (corn, potatoes and other root vegetables, squash, and beans), harvest methods, and seed saving. Wild foraging—edible plants, berries, mushrooms and how to recognize and prepare them.
5) Preserving food: Canning (steam, water bath, pressure), freeze-drying, dehydrating, root cellar storing, fermenting, salting, smoking, curing, freezing and refrigerating.
6) Stockpiling Food: Grains, protein, oil/fats, dairy, canned goods, nuts and nut butter, salt and seasonings, sweeteners, extra foreign spices, etc. Food processing equipment—grain grinders, solar and other off-grid cooking methods, etc.
7) Food Animals: Raising, harvesting and preserving food from domestic and wild animals. Poultry, rabbits, pigs, sheep, goats, milk cow, cattle, horses, etc. Farm and pasture management, enclosures, water, feed, etc. Hunting wild game.
8) Self defense: Weapons (firearms, knives, etc.), guard dogs, empty hand techniques, body armor, night vision equipment, ammunition, reloading equipment, training.
9) Alternate Energy: Solar, batteries, generators, fuel storage, wood production, lights, flashlights/headlamps, etc.
10) Communication: Family band/GMRS (walkie-talkies), ham radio, shortwave, AM/FM radios, cell phones, landline telephones, computers.
11) Medical care: First aid, suturing, wound and burn care, bone splints, midwifery, herbs (growing, harvesting and using), fire cider and other preventative care, dental care, bentonite clay, iodine, detoxing after radiation sickness, etc.
12) Physical and mental conditioning: Physical fitness, teaching kids, homeschooling, mental toughness, true optimism, hope, choosing battles, working with a resistant spouse, etc.
13) Maintenance, Repair and Construction: Having the right tools, welding, riveting, sewing, fiberglass repair, stockpiling supplies like lumber, steel shapes, glues, fasteners, car parts.
14) Transportation: Better boots, bikes, cars, trailers, bug out vehicles, electric vehicles.
15) Sanitation: Making soap, shampoo, paper product alternatives (toilet paper, napkins and tissues), shaving supplies, washing machines, homemade detergents, borax, washing soda, lye from ashes, etc.
Preparedness is an ongoing effort. It takes time and sometimes requires putting off other pursuits or hobbies to advance our learning in these crucial areas. Often it requires delving into areas outside our comfort zone. Don’t balk at learning in these areas too. You will be surprised how much progress you can make if you just apply yourself and do your best. Whether changing a part on a car, taking a firearms/self-defense class, learning a new aspect of ham radios, or putting up a crock of sauerkraut, it will pay big dividends down the road and give you time to make mistakes before your life depends on it. [END]
🪖 🇺🇸 👨💻 Selective Service System wants to wargame the draft
Fearing that its new plans for the U.S. military draft pool won’t work, the Selective Service System wants to create a computer simulation to test scenarios for its national mobilization.
Since 1940, men within a designated age range have been required to register with the Selective Service. But under a proposed rule, men aged 18 to 26 will be automatically registered starting Dec. 19, 2026. The Selective Service System will work off data contained in other federal databases.
The computer simulation will explore multiple areas. These include evaluating staffing and resource requirements, comparing mobilization and police scenarios and assessing the operational impact of surge conditions. In addition, the system will “identify throughput risks, delays, and bottlenecks” and support executive planning and reporting obligations.
...
🛢 This oil crisis is now considerably more dangerous than it was back in March while market sentiment remains complacent.
• Strait of Hormuz closed again, with less dark fleet shuttling than ten days ago;
• Iranian crude exports effectively blockaded;
• Bab el Mandeb has become a new front in the Iran-US conflict, removing additional Saudi barrels;
• Less diplomatic room for manoeuvre than before the MoU;
• Kazakh crude exports via CPC terminal halted following Ukraine’s vessel strike campaign in the Black Sea;
• 1.5mbpd of Russian product exports missing, with significant duration due to recurring Ukraine drone strikes;
• Global crude inventories 1.5bn barrels lower than on 28 Feb;
• US product inventories remain lowish while its refinery system is maxed out;
• Brent back to a US$6 front-month backwardation.
We are rapidly moving from a products crisis - which is here to stay - back into a crude and product crisis.
Expect fresh announcements of SPR releases.
🔗 Alexander Stahel
🌆 Market News Digest
[Jul 24, 2026, 07:00–16:00 EST]
🔥 Top Stories
• Middle East escalation risks spike — reports of strikes/explosions across Iran, Saudi, Kuwait, Yemen; tanker attacks and Hormuz-Bab el-Mandeb tensions lifted oil volatility and safe-haven flows.
• Trump weighs Iran options, pushes trade pressure — said he’s speaking with Iran, hasn’t decided on strikes, while also threatening major EU tariffs/301 probe and fresh Canada/Mexico tariffs.
• US growth data stays firm — flash PMIs beat estimates and June new-home sales topped forecasts, keeping recession fears in check.
• US stocks mixed at the close — Dow outperformed, Nasdaq lagged as AI/mega-cap weakness and geopolitics pressured tech.
⛽ Oil & Energy
• Crude swung lower despite conflict headlines — WTI settled at $89.31, Brent at $96.78 after missile/tanker reports, with renewed Red Sea/Hormuz risk.
• Tanker reroutes and strikes — TORM re-routed via Suez/southern Africa; reports also pointed to damage on a Saudi ...